Urban slums
Rapid urbanization is taking place in Africa. Slums are growing at twice the speed of the continent’s exploding cities.
For example, 85% of Kenya's population growth between 1989 and 1999 was absorbed in the densely packed slums of Nairobi and Mombasa1.
The majority of Africa’s slums are characterized by overcrowded, small dwellings in poor sanitary conditions where contagious diseases are rampant. Urban slums are often unsettled as they are not recognized by governments and conflict is widespread.
AMREF works in Kibera, Africa's largest slum located in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as Kechene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Kawempe in Kampala, Uganda. AMREF collaborates with both communities and governments to improve health and hygiene. The projects focus on encouraging governments to take responsibility for these communities and building the communities’ ability to demand and access health services.
In Kibera, for example, basic health care, water, and sanitation emerged as top priorities in consultation with the local communities. AMREF built a health center in 2000 and since then we have convinced the government to provide trained health workers and drug supplies. We have trained community members to educate people in HIV prevention and community health workers to care for those living with HIV/AIDS.
AMREF also installed water tanks, negotiated with Nairobi City Council to provide a water supply, and helped establish local water committees to manage and maintain the water supply.
Projects and Stories
- Dagoretti child in need
- Kawempe commercial sex workers
- Kibera HIV and water and sanitation
- Kechene water and sanitation
1 UN Habitat working paper, Nairobi 2003
89 % of our expenditures go directly to our life-saving programs in Africa. 
